Main menu

Secondary menu

Search

Follow Us

News

You are here

SEIA is the solar energy industry’s go-to source for the latest coverage on solar power, including U.S. and international policy, research and polls, business and financing trends, and more. Our staff strives to support the media covering solar energy issues and guide our members on effective media outreach with clear statements, background materials, news and multimedia resources.

SEIA is committed to informing policymakers, the media, and the American public about the benefits of solar energy for today’s communities, our economy, and our country.

West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin has vetoed legislation, HB 2201, which could have jeopardized the future of rooftop solar in the state by rewriting West Virginia’s net-metering policies. In announcing his decision, the Governor said the bill contained technical errors.

First Solar Inc. and SunPower Corp., the two largest U.S. solar-panel manufacturers, are planning a joint venture that will own and operate some of their projects. The companies expect to register for an initial public offering for the new venture, according to a statement Monday. They didn’t say when that may occur or how much they would seek to raise through the IPO. The shares surged in after-hours trading.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Calling it “unfair to families, businesses and churches,” the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) is urging West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin to veto HB 2201, which could jeopardize the future of rooftop solar in the state by rewriting West Virginia’s net-metering policies. Rhone Resch, SEIA president and CEO, said the legislation needs to be revised before becoming law:

Pages

Massachusetts' continued commitment to clean, solar energy is paying off, according to a just-released report by The Solar Foundation, which shows the state second only to California in solar jobs. Reacting to the news, Rhone Resch, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), said this remarkable progress is a result of several factors.

Under the California Climate Leadership initiative, State Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León, Senators Ben Hueso, Mark Leno, Fran Pavley and Bob Wieckowski, with the support of leaders from the business, labor, public health, consumer advocacy, and environmental communities, have announced a package of bills that would help meet Governor Brown’s climate change objectives by setting clean energy goals, divesting in fossil fuels and spurring growth in the clean energy economy. Rhone Resch, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), released the following statement applauding the initiative:

WASHINGTON, DC – In a new report, the Department of Energy (DOE) has highlighted the success of the Loan Programs Office’s solar projects, saying that since it financed its first five utility-scale projects in 2011, 17 additional projects have come on line without the use of loan guarantees. The report coincides with the dedication ceremony of Desert Sunlight, a 550-megawatt (MW) solar project in Riverside County, California.

WASHINGTON, DC – In a move that will increase the use of solar heating in California, the state’s Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has increased the incentive caps in California Solar Initiative's (CSI) Solar Thermal Program for multifamily, commercial, and pool heating systems. Applauding the decision, Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) President and CEO Rhone Resch issued the following statement:

First Solar Inc. and SunPower Corp., the two largest U.S. solar-panel manufacturers, are planning a joint venture that will own and operate some of their projects. The companies expect to register for an initial public offering for the new venture, according to a statement Monday. They didn’t say when that may occur or how much they would seek to raise through the IPO. The shares surged in after-hours trading.

The City of Tybee Island and Chatham County announced Atlanta-based Hannah Solar, LLC as the winning bidder to develop the community solar program, Solarize Tybee. Solarize Tybee, the first Solarize project in Georgia, allows residents and business owners to purchase solar at a lower cost through the power of bulk purchasing, which is estimated to bring the total cost down by 15-30%. The program was originally intended for just Tybee Island, but after an outpour of positive responses from citizens in the region, it has now spread throughout all of Chatham County.

Vivint Solar says it has extended job offers to all of the graduates of the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) "Reach for the Sun" pilot program at U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, just north of San Diego.

"Reach for the Sun" is an intensive workforce training program designed to help place military personnel who are transitioning out of active duty into jobs within the solar industry.

Pages

After more than five months of listening to both pros and cons, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finally closed the public comment period on its proposed plan to cut carbon emissions from power plants. Now it’s time for the EPA to make a good plan even better.

With the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) annual meeting kicking off on Saturday, I wanted to take a moment to welcome the commissioners to San Francisco and talk a little about how important solar power is to the health of our nation, our economy and our grid.

With widespread voter dissatisfaction evident in Tuesday’s national and state elections, we need a new approach – and a more collaborative approach – when it comes to solving many of our nation’s pressing problems.

When it comes to meeting the United States’ future carbon reduction goals, Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Ernest Moniz says solar energy is “critical” to these plans.

Secretary Moniz offered that acknowledgment as part of his keynote address this week in Las Vegas at Solar Power International (SPI), the largest solar trade show in America, co-sponsored by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).

Boosted by our exploding popularity on Facebook, SEIA’s social media efforts have been ranked #1 in the nation among trade associations with up to 100 employees, according to the 2014 Social Media Report published by Association Trends, a division of Columbia Books, Inc. SEIA was also ranked #2 nationally when compared to all other energy trade associations, coming in just behind the American Petroleum Institute (API).

In a comprehensive, first-of-its-kind study released today, America’s K-12 schools have shown explosive growth in their use of solar energy over the last decade, soaring from 303 kilowatts (kW) of installed capacity to 457,000 kW, while reducing carbon emissions by 442,799 metric tons annually – the equivalent of saving 50 million gallons of gasoline a year or taking nearly 100,000 cars off U.S. highways.

This was a huge week for fans of clean energy. First, Telsa Motors announced that it would build a new factory in Nevada, employing 6,500 workers. Then Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid vowed to hold a vote later this year on green energy tax credits. That important announcement was quickly followed by news that the U.S. solar market hit a major milestone in the second quarter of this year with more than half a million homes and businesses now generating solar energy.